"Heroes and role models once again demonstrate with their actions that greatness comes out of the ordinary," Xi said, adding that adhering to firm ideals and convictions and working tirelessly to do their jobs, every ordinary person can have an extraordinary life and every ordinary job can produce extraordinary achievements.

He encouraged the awardees to cherish the honor and influence more people with their strong faith, beliefs and confidence.

"We have sincere gratitude to the recipients of the Friendship Medal for their contribution to China's development," said Xi, adding that Chinese people are willing to work with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity and to make the planet a better place.

The eight honorees of the Medal of the Republic are deceased nuclear physicist Yu Min, longtime national legislator Shen Jilan, aerospace engineer Sun Jiadong, war veterans Li Yannian and Zhang Fuqing, "father of hybrid rice" Yuan Longping, nuclear submarine designer Huang Xuhua and Nobel Prize winner Tu Youyou.

Cuba's Raul Castro Ruz, Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Tanzania's Salim Ahmed Salim, Russia's Galina Kulikova, France's Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Canada's Isabel Crook were awarded the Friendship Medal.

Another 28 Chinese individuals were awarded national honorary titles such as "the people's scientist," "the people's artist," "the people's hero" and "the people's role model." Some of them were honored posthumously.

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